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W. F. ALLEN, SALISBURY, MARYLAND 



CURRANTS 



Soil and Cultivation. Red Currants are more particular 

 in regard to soil than most other small fruits. They will 

 grow in a hot sandy soil, but are never so productive as in a 

 cool, moist clay loam, and no small fruit will repay liberal 

 manuring better. While the vitality of the plant is great 

 and it will grow in almost any soil if fertile, the moisture- 

 retaining character of a clayey soil, well supplied with humus, 

 will always make the crop greater and better. 



Pruning and Training. While some growers have attemp- 

 ted to train the Currant to a single stem in tree-like form, this 

 is not the best, especially as a commercial fruit. The bush 

 form in which shoots are thrown up from the base is always 

 the best. The pruning needed is to prevent too many shoots 

 coming up from the base and crowding the bush, and cutting 

 out of the old gnarly shoots that have served their purpose. 

 Half a dozen thrifty shoots will make more and larger fruit 

 than a crowded cluster, and the effort should be to maintain 

 a supply of vigorous two-year-old shoots, and then elim- 

 inate the stunted ones. The first season allow three good 

 shoots to grow, and the next spring shorten these slightly if 

 they have made a long growth, and encourage new shoots 

 from below. In a dry sandy soil I have found that a good 

 mulch of sifted coal ashes under the plants will retain moisture 

 better than any other material. 



Cherry. Very large; deep red, rather acid; bunch is short, 

 plant erect, stout, vigorous and productive. 



Fay's Prolific. Less acid than Cherry, bunch large, berries 

 medium, bright and sparkling. One of the leading red va- 

 rieties and a remarkable cropper. 



White Grape. This is the largest and most productive of the white varieties. Flavor sweet and very 



fine for the table. 



Wilder. One of the strongest growers and most 

 productive. Bunch and berry large, bright, attrac- 

 tive red color, even when dead ripe. Hangs on 

 bushes in fine condition for handling as late as 

 any known variety. Ripens at same time as Fay's 

 and hangs on bush much longer; fully as prolific. 

 A popular variety both for table or for market. 



Pomona. Of good size and flavor. Bright red 

 and long-stemmed, hanging in fine condition long 

 after ripe. Bears early and abundantly. 



Red Cross. A large and productive variety, 

 and undoubtedly one of the best Currants if not 

 the very best midseason variety on the market. 

 The masses of fruit are so dense as to cut off the 

 naked canes from view and the fruit has a mild 

 and pleasant flavor. One proof of its popularity 

 is that we sell more of this variety than anything 

 else on our list. It is a vigorous grower and is very 

 productive. 



Red Cross Currants. Vigorous and productive 



Wilder Currants 

 One of the strongest growers 



Paid More for Inferior Plants 



The privet plants ordered from you arrived today. 

 and I wish to congratulate you upon the same. I have 

 in the past paid over twice as much for far inferior 

 plants, and I shall take pleasure in recommending you 

 to anyone whom I hear making inquiries about hedge 

 plants. With best wishes. — F. D. Cock, Elizabeth 

 City Co., Va., March 13, 191 1. 



Pleased To Do Business with Us 



Your shipment of privet arrived in good shape, 

 am pleased with them. It is a pleasure to do business 

 with people who are prompt as you have been in 

 making shipments. — F. R. Schubert, Detroit, Mich., 

 May 19, 191 1. 



Best He Ever Planted 

 I received strawberry plants in first-class condition, 

 and they were the best I ever planted. Thanks. — J. H. 

 Van Reed, Berks Co., Pa, 



